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Former Labour Party candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour joins ADC coalition.
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Police seal Alimosho venue hours before scheduled opposition meeting.
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Rhodes-Vivour accuses APC of weaponising state institutions.
Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has announced his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), vowing that no act of intimidation will stop his declaration.
Rhodes-Vivour confirmed his move in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, one day before his official unveiling.
“I will be declaring for the ADC coalition tomorrow. No amount of police intimidation, sealed venues, or harassment will stop this historic event. Lagos belongs to the people, and we will not be silenced,” he said.
His statement came shortly after police operatives sealed off Lion Field in Alimosho, Lagos, a venue earlier approved for the ADC to host a political meeting.
Rhodes-Vivour described the police action as “an assault on democracy” and accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of abusing state power.
“It is truly disappointing that the Lagos APC is abusing state institutions by sealing off the venue where the ADC was scheduled to hold a meeting tomorrow after obtaining the necessary approvals,” he said, stressing that Lagos “belongs to all its residents, not a select few.”
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The sealing of the ADC venue follows reports of repeated disruptions of the coalition’s activities in Lagos, including alleged assaults on members and interference with political gatherings.
The ADC has recently gained momentum nationally after opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, aligned with the coalition to mount a united challenge against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
